2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Betting Odds and Predictions
The best volleyball teams from all over the globe are about to meet in Poland and Slovenia to pursue one of the most prestigious trophies in the sport. The 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship should be highly competitive and a joy to watch.
It also brings plenty of gambling opportunities. The 2022 FIVB World Championship betting odds for the winner are available, so it’s time to take a deeper look at the tournament.
In this preview, I explore the odds, the format, and the top favorites before sharing my prediction for the eventual 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship winner.
2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Odds
- Poland; +250
- France; +300
- Brazil; +400
- United States; +500
- Italy; +600
- Serbia; +900
- Slovenia; +2000
- Cuba; +3000
The latest FIVB Men’s World Championship betting odds clearly show there’s no huge favorite in the tournament. The best betting sites see Poland and France as the strongest contenders, but at least three other teams could go all the way.
I generally agree with that assessment, so let’s look at the format and the leading contenders next.
2022 Volleyball Men’s World Championship Format and Schedule
You should definitely consider the format if you plan on betting on the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship. The road to the title is long, and managing your resources is critical.
24 teams will play in the finals, starting from August 26. The competition’s final is on September 11, so plenty of volleyball is to be played.
Poland and Slovenia will host the 2022 Men’s World Championship, which is a huge factor. Poland is one of the best teams in the world, so adding the home advantage makes the nation even more formidable.
The competition is split into two stages: groups and knockouts. The former features six pools of four teams each. They play against each other in a single round-robin format. The top two teams progress to the next stage, as well as the best four third-placed countries for a total of 16 nations in the knockouts.
Here’s what the FIVB World Championship groups look like after the draw.
Seed | Pool A | Pool B | Pool C | Pool D | Pool E | Pool F |
1 | Ukraine | Brazil | Poland | France | Italy | Argentina |
2 | Serbia | Japan | USA | Slovenia | Canada | Iran |
3 | Tunisia | Cuba | Mexico | Germany | Turkey | Netherlands |
4 | Puerto Rico | Qatar | Bulgaria | Cameroon | China | Egypt |
Most groups are fairly balanced with a few exceptions. Pool F is almost unpredictable, and Pool D could bring us a few surprises. The rest have clear favorites, and considering the format, I don’t think any big guns will be eliminated early on.
The group matches end on August 31, and the teams return on September 3 for the knockouts. They are single-elimination matches in four rounds. It all ends on September 11 when the third-place match and the final take place.
If you want to explore the full schedule, I recommend visiting the official website of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2022.
2022 FIVB Volleyball World Championship Main Contenders
It’s time to shift my attention to the 2022 FIVB Volleyball World Championship winner betting market and explore the top contenders. I see at least four potential champions and a few more countries that could upset the odds.
The only notable miss here is Russia, which was supposed to co-host the tournament. The country was eventually banned because of the invasion of Ukraine.
Winning the World Championship remains a monumental task, even without the Russians. Here are the countries that are most likely to bring the title home.
Poland
- FIVB Standings: 1ST
- Key Players: Bartosz Kurek
- Coach: Nikola Grbic
- World Championship Titles: 3 (1974; 2014; 2018)
The current Polish squad is so good that picking the key player to highlight was close to impossible. The two-time defending champions have all the ingredients required to win another FIVB Volleyball World Championship.
The expectations are sky-high, and the only question here is whether the transition from the past few years is complete. Poland has failed to win any major men’s volleyball trophies since the World Championship in 2018 because younger players replaced some of the heroes from that competition.
The team suffered in the process, even if the overall results stayed consistent. Poland was always in the mix for the medals in that period but failed to win a major title.
The home advantage at the 2021 European Championship didn’t help either, and the team finished 3rd. Poland needs to find another gear to win the upcoming World Championship.
The potential is there, and it’s up to Nikola Grbic to make the best of the squad. He was an exceptional player, and his transition to coaching has been successful too. I expect a top-3 finish for Poland, but I see a few issues too.
The most obvious one is Wilfredo Leon’s injury. The Cuban-born star will miss the World Championship, which is a big hit for the team. You simply can’t replace a player of such quality.
The other problem is that the Poles are in the same group with the US. The Americans are very strong too, so finishing second in the group and facing a formidable opponent in the Round of 16 could harm the hosts’ chances.
I don’t like the 2022 Men’s World Championship betting odds for Poland to win the title. The price is fair at best, so this is not the best pick available.
France
- FIVB Standings: 2nd
- Key Player: Nicolas Le Goff
- Coach: Andrea Giani
- World Championship Titles: 0
France has never won a World Championship, but the country can change that in 2022. The reigning Olympic champions beat the USA to win the 2022 Nations League and prove they are the team in form right now.
Head coach Andrea Giani has the luxury of picking from multiple top players in each position. That might be one of the biggest problems for the French team.
We’ve seen so many different lineups that I’m not sure even the coach knows what his best team is. Such versatility and depth are great gifts in the early stages where France can adjust to the opposition’s main weaknesses and rotate to keep the stars fresh.
The problems come later on when Giani has to pick the best starting six. If he can get it right, France is my main favorite for the tournament. The team has the exceptional Earvin Ngapeth, who’s always an MVP contender.
And yet, I believe that Nicolas Le Goff holds the key to success. The central blocker makes a vast difference when France is serving, so Giani has to rely on him in crucial matches.
I don’t expect any problems in the group stage even if Slovenia and Germany are decent, so France should easily reach the last 8. If the head coach uses his resources correctly, the team can go all the way.
Brazil
- FIVB Standings: 4th
- Key Player: Wallace de Souza
- Coach: Renan Dal Zotto
- World Championship Titles: 3 (2002, 2006, 2010)
It would be easy to dismiss Brazil after this year’s shaky performance in the Nations’ League. The country finished sixth and looked a step behind the best teams in the competition.
On the surface, that’s a bad sign for the upcoming World Championship, but you should consider the context. The Brazilians entered the Nations League without veteran Wallace de Souza and his replacement Alan Souza got injured during the tournament.
Wallace will be back for the 2022 World Championship, so I expect a much stronger performance. The experienced opposite is an exceptional scorer, often the main target in clutch points.
His presence and contribution can inspire Brazil for a strong run in the tournament. The roster is full of talented players, and head coach Renan Dal Zotto has all the experience in the world. If you add the easy group, Brazil is up there with the other contenders.
If you still have doubts about the team, remember that Brazil has reached five consecutive World Championships and counting. The nation always hits top form for this competition, and 2022 won’t be an exception.
USA
- FIVB Standings: 5th
- Key Player: Matthew Anderson
- Coach: John Speraw
- World Championship Titles: 1 (1986)
Team USA is another contender you should consider based on overall quality and form. The team just exchanged victories with France and Poland in the Nations League, finishing second in the tournament.
It was an impressive achievement without a few big players, including star Matt Anderson who’s returning for the World Championship 2022. The USA should be even stronger for the upcoming competition, and the team has a good record in close games.
I don’t think the squad has the same depth as the other top contenders, but the starting six can beat anyone in the tournament.
I don’t think the 2022 FIVB Men’s World Championship betting odds are high enough under the circumstances, but the USA could still win the competition.
Top 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Sleepers
It would be hard for any team outside the Big Four I covered to challenge for the 2022 World Championship. And yet, a few countries deserve attention.
- Cuba – The young Cuban squad is extraordinarily talented and starts from an easy group. I expect to see Cuba in the knockouts, and even the top favorites would prefer to avoid this nation.
- Slovenia – The second host has the squad and experience for a deep run. Slovenia can beat almost anyone on a good day, and the home crowd will help too.
- Italy – The squad is up there with the best based on talent alone. Italy’s biggest issue is the lack of experience, but this team will win major trophies soon.
- Serbia – You can never write Serbia off in big volleyball tournaments. I almost feel guilty for not including the country on the list of top contenders, but the squad is a step behind the main favorites.
2022 FIVB World Championship Prediction and Betting Pick
Based on my preview, you’ve probably noticed how I don’t have a firm favorite for the crown. Many teams can grab the title, so I expect anything. And yet, it feels like the 2022 Volleyball World Championship betting odds for Brazil are too good to ignore.
Many underestimate the team because of the mediocre run in the Nations League, but Wallace will be playing this time. The South American juggernaut always performs in World Championships, so that’s my betting pick for 2022.
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